HB 761-Exempt Well Contractorsfrom Electrical Contracting Licensing RequirementsThe purpose of this notice is to inform you of House Bill 761 – Exempt Well Contractors from Electrical Contracting License Requirements. This House bill passed the House and is now in the Senate. It is likely action will take place in the next few weeks.

The bill was not reviewed with electrical contractors, electrical associations or the Electrical Board before it was filed.

There are approximately 1,000 well-drillers, only 38 of whom have obtained the Special Restricted Groundwater Pump Electrical Contracting License (SP-WP) which has been available since 1976. This bill would allow over 900 well-drillers to install the associated electrical wiring without any test or proof of their knowledge and experience. Bill language has no limits so it will exempt well installations for residential, commercial, industrial regardless of voltage, or configuration.

In 1976, the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors provided assistance to the well contractor industry by creating the Special Restricted Groundwater Pump Electrical Contracting License Classification (SP-WP) so that the well contractor could conveniently install a turnkey installation for its customer. The examination for this Special Restricted License consists of (40) forty questions and is “Open Book” on the “National Electrical Code”. We have no information that this special license classification does not continue to serve the Well Contractor business.

Under current law, the installation, maintenance and repair of electrical wiring associated with well water pumps is covered by the electrical contracting license requirements to protect the employees of the well contractors, other persons on the site and the property owners and children from the dangers of faulty electrical work. Water and electricity does not mix!

How much can a well guy do on his own under this rule?I could see it if he was simply connecting his pump to an EC installed branch circuit. he pump guy probably has more experience in making up the pump cable, switch and the stuff down in the hole anyway.

Around here (North Jersey) we usually allow the well driller to make any/all connections from the pressure switch all the way out to the bottom of the well. Anything before the pressure switch (Or a disconnect for well) is up to the EC on the job.